Cartridge filling machine



Sept. 26, 1939. H. R. T EAR CARTRIDGE FILLING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 19, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet l 5 7 a 7 a a a a a MT m 1 MR T W W 4 A a v 2 l 7 m a 2 I f m. L 9 a a M M w, a v m m w g H 3 WEI-n ilk v NAZ /fig u Sept. 26, 1939.

H; R TEAR I 2,174,335

caawmnes FILLING momma Original Filed Dec. 19,1936

5 Sheets-Sheet 3- JNVENTOR. HA RR Y R TEA R in; W M

TORNEYS.

4 Sept. 26, 1939. H R, TEAR 2,114,335

CARTRIDGE FILLING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 19, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. HARRY R T EAR BY 34 m 9 M A TORNEYS.

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 .LE BAH H m [E U Fla INVENTOR. HARRY FF. TEA}? BY v TTORNEYS.. v

H. R. TEAR CARTRIDGE FILLING- MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 19, 1936 Sept. 26, '1939.

Patented Sept. 26, 1939 -UNITED STATES PATENT OFFiCE CARTRIDGE FILLING MACHINE;

Harry R. Tear, Philadelphia, Pa, assignor to The Lubrication Corporation, Chicago, 111., a cor poration of Delaware 9 Claims.

This invention relates to machines and methods for filling containers and particularly to the filling of cans or cartridges with plastic material.

The invention is of great utility in the filling of lubricant cartridges with semi-solid or plastic greases and the like and is described with particular reference to this use, although it will be readily apparent that the same machine and method could be employed for filling various types of containers with any desired type of material.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a filling method and machine in which entrapped air in the container or in the material is eliminated. This feature is important to insure full measure of the material in all cases and is particularly important in the filling of lubricant cartridges since air might interfere seriously with operation of a pump with which thecartridge is to be used.

Another object of the invention is to rotate a cartridge or container during filling thereof and to provide a machine for simultaneously rotating a cartridge and discharging material thereinto.

Another object is to provide a filling machine including a metering device and amovable support fora container in which the container will be latched in proper position until it has received a measured amount of material.

Another object of the invention is to provide a filling machine including a novel interlock control to insure that a container is in proper position before any material is discharged.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings in :which:

Figure l is a partial diagrammatic view of a filling machine embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a front view of the machine with parts in section;

Figure 3 is a top View of Figure 2 with parts in section;

Figures 4, 5, and 6 are sections on the lines IVIV, VV and VIVI respectively of Figure 3;

Figure '7 is a partial section on the line VIIVII of Figure 2; and

Figures 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 are sections through a lubricant cartridge illustrating progressive stages in the filling thereof.

The machine shown in Figure 1 includes a vat or reservoir [4 to hold grease or other material with which containers are to be filled. In the case of grease, and particularly of viscous grades of grease, the reservoir l4 preferably is a mixer forming a part of the grease manufacturing machinery so that the grease may be handled in its liquid state before solidifying. The lower end of the vat is connected through a valve l5 with a continuously operating pump l6 of any desired type which discharges through a manual control valve ll into a line 18. The line 18 leads back into the vat l4 through a suitable pressure relief valve IS Which normally closes the line It but is adapted to open in response to a predetermined pressure to permit fiow of grease into the vat.

A line 2| is connected to the line I8 through a manual control valve 22 and a screen or strainer 29 and has branches 23 leading to the opposite ends of a metering cylinder 24 in which a double acting piston 25 is slidably mounted. Valve cylinders 26 are formed at the opposite ends of the cylinder 24 and are connected at theirupper ends to the ends of cylinder 24 and to the branch pipes 23 as best seen in Figure 5. The lower ends of valvecylinders 26 are connected to theends of cylinder 24 and to suitable discharge nozzles 21 which are mounted at opposite ends of the cylinder '24.

Cylindrical valves 28 having reduced portions 29 are slidably mounted in the cylinders 26 to control operation of the metering device and are interconnected by means of a lever 3| which is pivoted at its center on the cylinder 24 and is connected at its ends to the valves .28. 7 It will be noted from Figure 4 that when one of the valves is in a position to establish communication between the cylinder 24 and one of the nozzles. 2'! the other valve is in a position to establish communication between the cylinder 24 and one of the branch pipes 23.

The cylinder 24 is supported by posts 32 which are carried ,by ,a suitablebase 33 adapted to be .mounted on a bench or the like indicated at 34 in Figure 6. A carriage 35 is pivoted on a vertical spindle 33 on the base and rotatably carries a pair of supporting sockets 37 for carrying cartridges to be filled, the sockets preferably having extensions 38 journaled in the carriage 35. Driving rollers 39 may be keyed to the lower ends of extensions 38 for engagement with a driving disc 4! which is rotatable about an axis eccentric to the axis of spindle 36 and which is driven by a shaft 42 connected to any suitable source of power.

As best seen in Figure 3, when the carriage 35 has moved to the extreme right, the right hand socket 3'! is centered beneath the right hand nozzle 21 and the roller 39 on the right hand socket is in engagement with the driving disc 4|, the roller 39 on the left hand socket being out of engagement with the driving disc at this time. It will be apparent that when the carriage is moved to the left about its pivot, the left hand socket will be centered beneath the left hand nozzle and its driving roller will be in engagement with the driving disc. Preferably a toggle spring 43 is pivoted on the base 33 and to the carriage 35 to insure that the carriage will always be urged to one extreme positon or the other.

To insure that the carriage 35 will remain in proper position during a filling operation, a pair of latches 44 are formed on the opposite ends thereof to engage latches 45 which are secured to rods 46. The rods 46 are journalled in the base 33 and in brackets 41 on the cylinder 24 and are preferably provided with springs 48 to urge the latches 45 into a. position to engage the latches 44.

The latches 45 are preferably controlled by the metering device to be released after a predetermined amount of lubricant has been dispensed and for this purpose the rods 46 carry arms having bifurcated ends straddling pins 52 which are slidably mounted in the ends of the cylinder 24. The pins 52 preferably carry stop collars 53 to limit movement between the pins and the arms 5|.

In order to control operation of the metering device the valves 28 are provided with extensions 54 pivoted at their lower ends to levers 55 which are pivoted on brackets 56 on the base 33. The levers 55 have spaced ends 51 overlying the carriage 35 and adapted to be engaged by an operating lever 58 which is pivoted on the carriage. The lever 58 is formed with a handle portion 59 and is preferably urged about its pivot by a spring 6| in a direction to raise the handle 59.

In operation when the vat I4 is filled with lubricant and the pump 16 is running, the lines I8 and 2! and the branches 23 will be maintained full of lubricant under pressure, the pressure being determined by the setting of the relief valve I 9. Assuming that the piston 25 is at the left end of the metering cylinder 24 a cartridge 62 to be filled may be placed in the right hand socket 31 and the carriage 35 may be moved to the right to engage the right hand latches 44, 45 and to bring the right hand roller 39 into driving engagement with the disc 4|.

With the parts in this position the handle 59 may be depressed to cause the end of lever 58 to engage and raise the end of the right hand lever 55 to shift the valves 28 to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 4. It will be noted that the lever 58 will not be in a position to engage the right hand lever 55 until the carriage has been moved to its extreme right position in which the roller 39 engages the disc 4! to rotate the support 31 and the support is properly located with respect to the discharge nozzle 21. If the operator should fail to move the carriage far enough, the toggle spring 43 will complete the movement and the carriage will be held in proper position by the latch 44, 45,

With the valves 28 in the position described the left end of cylinder 24 will be connected to the branch 23 and the right end thereof will be connected to the right hand nozzle 21. Lubricant under pressure will, therefore, flow into the left end of the cylinder to force the piston 25 to the right thereby to force a charge of lubricant in the cylinder out of the right hand nozzle and into a container carried by the right hand support 31, it being noted that during this operation the support and container are rotating. The volume of lubricant dispensed at each operation is determined by the size of the cylinder 24 and the travel of the piston 25 therein and since these factors are constant it will be apparent that a constant, measured amount of lubricant will be dispensed at each operation.

When the piston 25 approaches the right end of cylinder 24, it will strike the end of the pin 52 and arm 5| will turn the rod 46 and latch 45 in a direction to release the latch 44. Preferably during the filling operation an empty cartridge has been placed in the left support 31 so that when the right hand latch is released the car riage 35 may be swung to the left and the above described operations may be repeated on the left side. In this way the machine provides a substantially continuous process, a full cartridge being replaced by an empty one in one support 31 while a cartridge in the other support is being filled.

Figures 8 to 12 illustrate various stages in the filling of a cartridge 62 which is formed with a cylindrical side wall and a fixed end closure 63 having an axial opening 64. The opening 64 is defined by an inwardly extending flange having a generally spherical surface for engagement with an inlet stud on a lubricant dispenser, the flange forming an annular pocket 65 with the end closure. The opposite end of the cartridge is closed by a slidable piston or follower 66 which is shaped to conform to the closure 63 so that substantially all of the contents of the cartridge will be dispensed when the piston is moved toward the closure 63.

When the cartridge is filled according to the method of the present invention as by means of the novel machine described above, the lubricant is forced against the sides of the cartridge to expel all of the air therefrom, the upper surface of the lubricant taking the form of a paraboloid as indicated at 61. As more lubricant is fed into the cartridge, the surface 61 moves upwardly until the cartridge is full, it being noted that the pocket 65 is filled with lubricant and that there is substantially no possibility for air to be entrapped either in the lubricant itself or in recesses in the cartridge.

While only one machine embodying the invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent that various changes could be made therein and that the method could be performed by other apparatus. It is, therefore, not intended that the scope of the invention shall be limited in any way other than by the terms of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A filling machine comprising means for feeding a measured quantity of plastic composition, a support for a container to receive said composition from the feeding means, a latch to hold said support in a position in which a container carried thereby will receive the composition from the feeding means, means to rotate the support when it is in its latched position, and means operable by the feeding means to release said latch after said measured quantity of composition has been fed thereby.

2. A filling machine comprising a metering device having two discharge outlets, means to discharge a measured quantity of material alternately through said outlets, control means for said metering device, a pivotally mounted support to carry a container and swingable to place a container carried thereby in a position to receive material from either of said outlets, and operating means for said control means carried by said pivotal support, said operating means being so constructed and arranged that it can only operate the control means to eiTect a discharge of material through that one of the outlets to which a container is supported in receiving position.

3. A filling machine comprising a metering device having two discharge outlets, means to discharge a measured quantity of material alternately through said outlets, control means for said metering device, a movably mounted support to carry a container and movable to place a container carried thereby in a position to receive material from either of said outlets, means to rotate a container carried by the support when it is in a position to receive material, and operating means for said control means carried by said support, said operating means being so constructed and arranged that it can only operate the control means to effect a discharge of material through that one of the outlets to which a container is supported in receiving position.

4. A filling machine comprising a metering device having two discharge outlets, means to discharge a measured quantity of material alternately through said outlets, shiftable control means for the metering device to control which one of said outlets material is discharged through, a movably mounted carriage, supports rotatably mounted on said carriage to carry containers, said carriage being shiftable to place said supports selectively in receiving position with respect to said outlets, driving means to rotate a support which is in receiving position, and operating means for said control means mounted on said carriage to shift the control means to effect discharge of material through the outlet with respect to which a support is in receiving position.

5. In a filling machine, a pivotally mounted carriage, a support rotatably mounted on said carriage and adapted to receive a container to be filled, a driving disc rotatable about an axis eccentric to the pivotal axis of the carriage and engageable with the support to rotate the same, a latch to hold the carriage in a position in which said disc engages the support, means to dis charge material into a container carried by the support, and means operated by said discharge means to release the latch after discharge of a predetermined amount of material.

6. In a filling machine, a pivotally mounted carriage, a pair of supports rotatably mounted on the carriage and adapted to receive containers to be filled, a driving disc rotatable about an axis eccentric to the pivotal axis of the carriage and a pair of spaced means to discharge material into containers carried by the supports, said carriage being shiftable to bring a container carried by one of said supports in register with one of said discharge means and to bring said support into driving engagement with the disc so that the support in register with a discharge means will be rotated and simultaneously to move a container carried by the other of said supports out of register with both discharge means.

7. In a filling machine, a pivotally mounted carriage, a pair of supports rotatably mounted on the carriage and adapted to receive containers to be filled, a driving disc rotatable about an axis eccentric to the pivotal axis of the carriage and adapted to engage and drive one of the supports when the carriage is in one position and the other support when the carriage is in another position, latch means to hold the carriage in said positions, means to discharge material into a container carried by the support which is being driven, and means operated by said discharge means to release said latch means after discharge of a predetermined amount of material.

8. In a filling machine, a pivotally mounted carriage, a pair of supports rotatably mounted on the carriage and adapted to receive containers to be filled, a driving disc rotatable about an axis eccentric to the pivotal axis of the carriage and. adapted to engage and drive one of the supports when the carriage is in one position and the other support when the carriage is in another position, latch means to hold the carriage in said positions, a metering device having two outlets positioned to discharge material into containers carried by said supports respectively when the supports are in position to be driven, and means operated by said metering device to release said latch means after discharge of a predetermined amount of material through either of said outlets.

9. In a filling machine, a pivotally mounted carriage, a pair of supports rotatably mounted on the carriage and adapted to receive containers to be filled, a driving disc rotatable about an axis eccentric to the pivotal axis of the carriage and adapted to engage and drive one of the supports when the carriage is in one position and the other support when the carriage is in another position, latch means to hold the carriage in said positions, a metering device having two outlets positioned to discharge material into containers carried by said supports respectively when the supports are in position to be driven, control means for said metering device, operating means for said control means mounted on said carriage and so constructed and arranged that it can only operate the control means to effect a discharge of material through that outlet which is in register with a container on the support which is being driven, and means operated by the metering device to release said latch means after discharge of a predetermined amount of material.

HARRY R. TEAR. 

